Rating: 
Summary: Edgar winner in 1974 still a good read in 2001
Review: Many books from the early seventies seem sort of comical almost 30 years later. The hippies, Watergate, Vietnam were very real but the writing of the times often doesn't hold up well. This book is a nice exception.Dance Hall of the Dead is one of the earliest of the Leaphorn/Chee series. In many ways it sets up (and epitomizes) the formula that has made this books so popular. Leaphorn (and Chee) is both a Navajo and an everyman. The mystery will lead to encounters with the white culture and another southwestern Native American culture -- in this case the Zuni's. And yes, there will be a serious dose of southwestern history, culture and spirituality. And, in the case of this book and many others, the case will be solved due to some violation of a cultural taboo by a bad guy outside of that culture. The pacing will be that of the southwest -- a mellower clock that the coasts operate on. What stands out in this book is the author's insights on the mindsets of teenagers. More specifically, what happens when the usual teenage angst is complicated by trying to live in multiple cultures as is the case of the missing boy, George. George is a Navajo, living in modern America with all of its white culture, who wants to be a Zuni. Ah, youth....
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best
Review: One of Hillerman's best -- and that's saying a lot. Second only to his "Listening Woman" as an evocative, powerful, suspensful view of a specific place and people.
Rating:
Summary: Dancing and Halling this book around 'til I'm Dead
Review: The content of the book the Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman is mystery & thriller. People have labeled him as a best mystery writer. His crime solving Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Nation Tribal Police has made this book transcend the mystery genre. Its descriptive writing has made it more to the middle-aged and into mystery or puzzle solving crimes. The content of Dance Hall Of The Dead by Tony Hillerman is between mystery, thriller and horror because how Hillerman concentrates on one place and religion. The Zuni's are very spiritual as well as the Navajo's and when it comes to the reservation, there is a lot of mystery. The way Hillerman describes each event and location is so well put. How he talks about the background of a certain character. Especially about the Zuni mythology gets you thrilled on what's been behind the murders. When you think of horror and an endless desert with tales of witches and skinwalkers you might want to check it out.1
Rating:
Summary: Dancing and Halling this book around 'til I'm Dead
Review: The content of the book the Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman is mystery & thriller. People have labeled him as a best mystery writer. His crime solving Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Nation Tribal Police has made this book transcend the mystery genre. Its descriptive writing has made it more to the middle-aged and into mystery or puzzle solving crimes. The content of Dance Hall Of The Dead by Tony Hillerman is between mystery, thriller and horror because how Hillerman concentrates on one place and religion. The Zuni's are very spiritual as well as the Navajo's and when it comes to the reservation, there is a lot of mystery. The way Hillerman describes each event and location is so well put. How he talks about the background of a certain character. Especially about the Zuni mythology gets you thrilled on what's been behind the murders. When you think of horror and an endless desert with tales of witches and skinwalkers you might want to check it out.1
Rating:
Summary: Dance Hall of the Dead
Review: The Dance Hall of the Dead is a well written novel that blends fiction with nonfiction. The story mainly takes place in and around the Zuni reservation in New Mexico. The story is intertwined with Zuni culture and presents references to Navajo and Archaic culture. I am not very familiar with the Zuni culture, so i do not know how accurate his cultural references are. I found this book to be an easy and fun read. Although a little slow at first, the story builds on unanswered questions that will have you second guessing until the very end. Anyone interested in the Zuni, archaeology, or that enjoys a mystery/thriller should give this book a try.
Rating:
Summary: Dance Hall of the Dead
Review: The Dance Hall of the Dead is a well written novel that blends fiction with nonfiction. The story mainly takes place in and around the Zuni reservation in New Mexico. The story is intertwined with Zuni culture and presents references to Navajo and Archaic culture. I am not very familiar with the Zuni culture, so i do not know how accurate his cultural references are. I found this book to be an easy and fun read. Although a little slow at first, the story builds on unanswered questions that will have you second guessing until the very end. Anyone interested in the Zuni, archaeology, or that enjoys a mystery/thriller should give this book a try.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece of Mystery!
Review: The Dance Hall of the Dead will cause you to lose sleep! Not only is it one of the most suspenseful books around, the reader simply will not be able to put it down. Hillerman writes in such vivid terms the reader will feel the chill of the wind and snow as well as see the vistas that have enchanted so many who have been on the Navajo and Zuni reservations. The characters come to life, and you will find yourself right next to Joe Leaphorn as he searches for clues to solve this mystery of murder and intrigue. All of Hillerman's books are more than just mysterys, and this one is no different. Zuni culture explored at the finest level enriches this story tenfold. If you are interested in knowing about a small Native American culture that is difficult to find information about, this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece of Mystery!
Review: The Dance Hall of the Dead will cause you to lose sleep! Not only is it one of the most suspenseful books around, the reader simply will not be able to put it down. Hillerman writes in such vivid terms the reader will feel the chill of the wind and snow as well as see the vistas that have enchanted so many who have been on the Navajo and Zuni reservations. The characters come to life, and you will find yourself right next to Joe Leaphorn as he searches for clues to solve this mystery of murder and intrigue. All of Hillerman's books are more than just mysterys, and this one is no different. Zuni culture explored at the finest level enriches this story tenfold. If you are interested in knowing about a small Native American culture that is difficult to find information about, this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Mind-bogglingly good
Review: This book made a Tony Hillerman fan out of me. The opening scene took my breath away: he gets you inside the skin of a boy who's both a typical American teenager and a Zuni conscious of his ritual responsibilities. The cast of characters is varied and fascinating, the setting is vividly depicted, and, although the plot seems to meander at times, it all comes together in the heartbreaking conclusion. (And, given the current political situation at Zuni, his beautiful, detailed description of Shalako is as close to it as most of us will have the chance to get!) This is Hillerman at the height of his powers, and, with one or two exceptions, I don't think his later books live up to this one.
Rating:
Summary: A Thrilling Mystery
Review: This book was really exiting it had me sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time reading it. The Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman is the perfect book for the murder mystery lover. Ernesto Cata and George Bowlegs are best friends they both mysteriously disappear, Cata leaves a pool of blood and is found dead, and George flees the area. Joe Leaphorn a Navajo police officer follows up on the case, but a number of things complicate his journey to find George and solve the Mystery. This book is suspenseful and a real thriller there are just enough characters to make it interesting but not confusing. The book was so great that I could not put it down until I learned what happened next. This was because of the author's style, which always left you hanging at the end of each chapter. Although this book was one of the better books I have read it does not have a very intriguing beginning, but whatever you do don't stop reading. I almost put the book down and stopped reading a few times in the first two or three chapters as I neared the end I was definitely glad that I continued. There's no doubt that you should definitely read this book.
| 
